Sea Eagles welcome back Watmough but Dragons lose Merrin

Sea Eagles welcome back Watmough but Dragons lose Merrin

THE Sea Eagles will regain a representative back-rower and the Dragons will lose one for tonight's clash at WIN Jubilee Oval.

But that hasn't stopped the hosts from taking plenty of confidence into the clash against the table leaders.

Manly will welcome back New South Wales back-rower Anthony Watmough (pictured) from a four-game suspension, while the Dragons will be without Watmough's Blues teammate Trent Merrin, who suffered an arm injury in State of Origin game three.

But interim Dragons coach Paul McGregor has implored his players to step up again after three consecutive wins.

"With (Tyson) Frizell being out as well, he's another one that plays long minutes for us," McGregor said. "We'll have to play a bit of a different style, but we're going to have no excuses. Whoever takes the field will be good enough to do the job."

The highlight of the match will be the halves clash between Dragons pair Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop, and Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran.